Chevrolet has begun buying back some 2017-2019 Chevy Bolt electric vehicles (EVs) involved in a pair of safety recalls. Some Bolt owners report that Chevy has paid them the full purchase price for their vehicle.
Contacted for comment, a Chevy spokesperson told Kelley Blue Book, “We are handling buybacks on an individual basis. No additional info to share at this time.”
Vehicles Recalled Twice
Last November, Chevrolet recalled about 69,000 Bolt hatchbacks due to the risk of a battery fire. At the time, the company said it was aware of at least 12 vehicle fires triggered by batteries produced at LG Chem’s plant in Ochang, South Korea.
Dealers installed software that would prevent the batteries from charging to their full capacity and told owners a more permanent fix would come later.
At the end of April, the company recalled those cars again, saying that a permanent fix had been found. Dealers used newly developed diagnostic equipment to identify batteries at risk of fire and replaced them. The company also installed new software in every Bolt meant to monitor the battery and warn of any risks.
Some Owners Report Buy Backs
Some Bolt owners, though, say Chevrolet has gone a step further and simply repurchased their car. In both a Bolt-related Reddit forum and a forum at ChevyBolt.org, an enthusiast site dedicated to the car, users claim to have received a full refund of their purchase price. One Reddit user claims his refund covered the full MSRP even though he had received a $7,500 federal tax credit on the purchase of his Bolt – meaning that he actually profited from selling back his used car.
Automakers recall many cars to fix safety issues. Automakers use the information they have on file to notify owners. It’s not unusual for owners to miss a notification. Use the easy VIN tool at our recall center to see if your car has any unaddressed recalls.
